Shade roller



Mh. w3.

E. F. CHM/BLESS 2,9%,459

SHADE ROLLER Filed July 25, 1934 v l m m s n n n n nn Patented Feb. 18,1936 LINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHADE ROLLER Application July 25,1934, Serial No. 736,819

17 Claims.

This invention relates to shade rollers of the 'type provided with aspiral spring for automatically winding up a shade carried thereby, andis more particularly concerned with locking mechanism for the roller,which will permit the roller to be rotated against the action ci thespring, but which will lock the roller against rotation under action ofthe spring under cer. tain conditions of use.

It is old to provide a shade roller with locking mechanism which willpermit the roller to be rotated to raise or lower the shade, and whichwill be effective up to a certain velocity of rotation of the roller toautomatically and positively lock the roller against rotation when theshade is released, thereby holding the shade in any adjusted positionwith respect to the roller.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an improvedshade roller combining the known form of locking mechanism with a secondlocking mechanism, separate and distinct from the beforeme-ntionedlocking mechanism, which will become effective to lock the rolleragainst rotation should the velocity of rotation of the roller rise apredetermined amount above the certain velocity of rotation of theroller at which the first mentioned locking mechanism becomesineiective. In other words, up to a certain velocity of rotation of theroller, the first mentioned locking means will be effective to hold theroller against rotation, and, at a predetermined value above saidcertain velocity of rotation of the roller, the second locking meanswill become effective to hold the roller against rotation.

The said predetermined diierence in velocity of rotation represents theworking range within which the two locking means are both ineffective sothat the curtain may be run up by hand.

The foregoing object and others ancillary thereto are preferablyaccomplished as follows:

According to thepreferred embodiment oi the invention, a pair ofdiametrically disposed pivo ed pawls are pivoted at one end to one endof the shade roller for rotation there-with, thesey pawls, at their freeends, being adapted to engage in notches or recesses formed in thespring spindle of the roller for locking the roller against rotationwith respect to the spindle. Up to a certain velocity of rotation oi theroller, these pawls are adapted to drop by force of gravity into thenotches in the spindle and to lock the spindle to the roller, therebyholding the shade in any desired adjusted position. Above this certainvelocity of rotation of the roller, however,

the centrifugal force acting on the pawls will overcome the force ofgravity thereon and the above locking action cannot take place. It willbe apparent, therefore, that should the shade suddenly escape from thehands of a person trying 5 to adjust the same, that the shade rollerwould immediately rotate at a relatively great velocity, therebywindingv the shade around the roller with great rapidity with probableinjury to the shade and certain annoyance to the operator. To prel ventthis uncontrolled escape, the shade roller of the present invention hasbeen provided with a second separate and distinct locking mechanismwhich will become effective to lock the roller against rotation at avelocity which is a l predetermined amount above the velocity ofrotation of the roller at which the pawls fail to lock the roller to thespindle thereof. There must be a certain difference of running movementor velocity of the shade roller between that at which the pivoted pawlsbecome ineffective and that at which the second locking mechanismbecomes effective, otherwise the shade could not be raised. This rangeof velocities in which the roller runs freely corresponds to the rate atwhich the operator would raise the shade under hand control.

The second locking mechanism comprises, preferably, a double cam disc,(a single or multiple cam being contemplated), which is rigidly securedto the spring spindle of the roller, this cam being disposed in a drumwhich is rigidly secured to the shade roller. A frictional lockingroller or ball is carried by the inner surface of the flange of the drumand is adapted, upon a certain velocity of rotation of the drum androller, to become wedged between the cams and the inner surface of theflange of the drum and thereby lock the shade roller against rotationwith respect to its spindle. Where the velocity of rotation of the shaderoller is such that the pivoted pawls are effective to lock the shaderoller to the spindle, this frictional roller merely rolls along theange of the drum, being held in the lower portion thereof by gravity.However, when the velocity of rotation of the shade roller rises abovethat which permits the pivoted pawls to be effective, the action of thecentrifugal force, which holds the pawls out of engagement with therecesses in the spindle, immediately overcomes the force of gravitywhich holds the friction roller in the lower portion of the drum, andthe roller is carried around with the drum and wedged between the flangethereof and the cam, thereby locking the shade roller against rotationwith respect to the spindle. It will be apparent, from the foregoing,that the only free running movement of the shade roller will be in therange between the speed at which the pivoted pawls become ineffectiveand the speed at which the cam mechanism becomes effective to lock theshade roller to the spindle. In other words, the roller must rotateabove a certain limit of low speed and below a certain limit of highspeed,

for otherwise the shade roller will be locked against rotation. With thepresent device, the destruction of a shade by a too fast winding thereofupon the roller is eliminated, but the shade can be wound up by arelatively slow steady movement within certain limits, and if themovement of the shade is too fast or too slow, it will be locked.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its organization and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of a specificembodiment thereof when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in section, through one end of ashade roller embodying the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an end View of the shade roller shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end view of the cam locking mechanism taken along theline 3-3 of Figure 1 and showing the inoperative position of the lockingmechanism; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the operativeposition of the cam locking mechanism.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, it will be seen that the shaderoller I0, upon which the shade is adapted to be wound, is of' theordinary and well-known cylindrical form. This shade roller may beformed of wood, or of any suitable metal, and is provided with aninternal bore I2 for the reception of an internal spindle I3, aroundwhich is coiled a spiral spring I4. The spring |4 may be secured at oneend, to the roller I0 in any suitable or preferred manner, and at itsother end, the spring is fastened into a slot I5 in spindle |3 so thatthe roller may readily rotate about spindle I3 by action of the springas is customary in spring rollers of this class.

Spindle I3 terminates closely adjacent the outer end of roller I3 and isprovided with a stud I6 having a reduced portion I1, which extends intoa bore I8 in spindle I3 and is rigidly secured therein in any suitableor preferred manner. Stud I6 extends outwardly from the end of roller I0and projects through a central opening |9 in a flanged disc or drum 2|.A flange 22 is preferably formed on the drum 2| adjacent opening I3 toprovide a bearing for stud I6. This drum may be formed of any suitablemetal, and is disposed in abutting relation with the outer end of rollerI0. Suitable tongues 23, struck out from wall 24 of the drum, are driveninto the end of roller ID and serve to rigidly secure the drum to theroller for rotation therewith.

Disposed within drum 2| is a double cam disc, designated generally at25, which may be formed of any suitable metal. This cam is rigidlysecured to stud I6 for rotation therewith and is disposed on the studclosely adjacent wall 24 of drum 2|. The cam is in the form of a reversecurve and,

adjacent stud I6, is provided with pockets 26 and 2'| disposedoppositely of the convergent cam surfaces 28 thereof. These pockets areadapted to receive frictional rollers or balls 29 and 3|, respectively.The fixed cam disc 25 having a cam and pocket on each side of the stud,with a roller for each pocket, the shade roller I0 may be placed in itsbrackets with either side 32 of flattened portion 33 of stud I6 in anupward position. As shown in the drawing, the roller 29 is seated withinpocket 26 of cam 25, and roller 3| is disposed beneath cam 25 and seatson flange 34 of drum 2| Roller 3| is adapted to engage the cam surface28 of cam disc 25 and form a wedging action therebetween and the flange34 of drum 2| and thereby lock roller I!) against rotation.

Roller 3| is maintained within drum 2| and prevented from movinglaterally outwardly therefrom by means of a cup-shaped disc 36. Thisdisc, which may be formed of any suitable metal, 20

has the flange 31 thereof abutting and seating on flange 34 of drum 2|.Inward movement of disc 36 is prevented by cooperating shoulders 38 and39 formed on disc 36 and drum 2|, respectively, and outward movement ofdisc 36 is pre- 25 vented by an upturned flange 4| formed on the housing42, the flange 31 of disc 36 abutting the inner surface of flange 4| ofthe housing. The housing 42, which encloses the drum 2| and disc 36, maybe formed of any suitable metal and is rigidly secured to roller I0 asby crimping the inner ends 43 thereof into the outer surface of theroller.

Disc 36 also serves tosupport two pawls 45,

which are located on the disk at diametrically 35 opposite points. Thesepawls are pivotally secured at one end to the disc by means of pins 45,and at their free ends, the pawls are provided with projections 4l.These projections are adapted to engage in recesses 48 formed in anenlarged flange or boss 49, which is rigidly secured to stud I6. As thepawls 45 are mounted on disc 36 for rotation therewith, the engagementof the projections 4l in recesses 48 of boss 49, which is rigidlysecured to stud I 6, will lock roller I0 against rotation.

The operation of the device withV the various parts normally in theposition shown in Figures 2 and 3, is as follows:-

'Io cause the shade to descend, it is merely pulled downwardly at asufficient rate of speed to impart a velocity of rotation to the rollerwhich will cause the pawls 45 to fly outwardly under the action ofcentrifugal force and thereby release the pawls from the recesses 48 ofboss 49.

When the desired position of the shade is reached, the velocity ofrotation imparted to the roller is reduced until one of the pawls 45drops into one of the recesses 48, under the influence of gravity,whereupon the roller will be locked with respect to spindle I3 and theshade will be held in the desired adjusted position. The roller 3|during such descending movement of the shade will remain inapproximately the position shown in Figure 3 of the drawing, by reasonof its own gravity, and will rotate in about such position by reason ofits frictional contact with flange 34 of drum 2 Likewise, to raise theshade, it is first drawn down sufficiently to disengage pawls 45 fromrecesses 48 of bosses 49. The tension stored up in spring I4 by downwardmovement of the shade will then serve to impart sufficient velocity toroller I0 to Wrap the shade therearound. Also, the velocity of rotationimparted to roller I0 by spring I4 will be such that pawls 45 Will beheld out of engagement with recesses 48 by centrifugal force until suchtime as the desired position of the shade is reached, whereupon areduction in the velocity of rotation of the roller I will cause one ofthe two pawls 45 to drop into one of the recesses 48 by gravity andthereby lock the roller against further rotation. During such ascensionof the shade, the roller 3| will remain in approximately the positionshown in Figure 3 of the drawing, for the saine reasons previously setout.

It will appear from the foregoing that in normal operation of the shade,the pawl mechanism will be effective to automatically and positivelylock roller IB against ro-tation with respect to spindle I3. Up to acertain Velocity of rotation of roller lll, therefore, pawls 45 willlock roller ||l to spindle I3. Above such velocity of rotation, however,the pawls will be ineffective, and the shade may be raised or lowered atwill. This may be termed the free-runnng range of the shade. If theoperator winds the shade up too fast or lets go of the shade, it will beobvious that the shade will rapidly wind itself around the roller 1-with possible destruction to the shade and annoyance to the operator.This is so, because within the free running range of the shade, pawls 45are ineifective to lock roller IB to spindle I3. To overcome thisdifficulty, the free running range of the shade has, therefore, beenconned within certain limits by the pawls 45 and the cam lockingmechanism. If the shade is permitted to rise too fast, or if theoperator lets go of the shade, roller Iii will have a velocity ofmovement such that the centrifugal force which tends` to hold pawls 45out of engagement with recesses 48 on the stud II, will also beeffective to carry roller 3| around with drum 2| and into wedginglocking engageme-nt with cam surface 28 of cam 25, and lia-nge 34 ofdrum 2|. The roller 3| and earn will then be in the position shown inFigure 4 of the drawing, and roller I0 will be locked to spindle I3against rotation. The amount of free Vrunning range permitted the shadewill of course depend upon the design of cam 25. The cam may be designedso that roller 3| has relatively little movement with respect to thecam, in which case the cam mechanism will become effective almostimmediately the pawl mechanism becomes ineffective, or roller 3| mayhave a relatively large amount of movement with respect to cam 25, inwhich case the free running speed of the shade will also be relativelylarge. To release roller 3| from locking engagement with cam 25, asshown in, Figure 4 of the drawing, the shade is merely pulleddownwardly, thereby rotating drum 2| in a counter-clockwise direction,in which case roller 3| is carried out of engagement with cam 25 by drum2|.

From the above, it will appear that with the present device, the rollermust rotate above acertain limit of lo-w speed and below'another limitof high speed, for otherwise the roller will be locked against rotationfor winding up the shade. Thus,

' the roller will be locked if the operator is careless or neglectful inattempting to wind the shade up too fast. With the present arrangement,the destruction or" the shade by a too fast winding thereof upon theroller is eliminated, but the shade can be wound up by a relativelyslow, steady movement within certain limits, and if the movement of theshade is too fast, it will be locked.

Although I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof are possiaspring shade roller,

-maintained below a certain low velocity, and

normally inactive locking roller and cam means associated with saidshade roller and spindle and separate from said iirst named lockingmeans whichA becomes active to lock said shade roller to said spindlewhen the speed of said roller exceeds a certain high velocity and thefirst named locking means has become ineffective.

2. The combination with a spring roller of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, pawl means associated with said roller and spindle forpositively and automatically locking said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is maintained below a certain low velocity, andlocking roller and cam means associated with said spindle and shaderoller and separate from said pawl means to lock said roller to saidspindle when the speed of the roller exceeds a certain high velocity andthe pawl means becomes ineffective.

3. The combination with a spring roller, of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, a plurality of pawls associated with said roller forrotation therewith, a boss secured to said spindle and having aplurality of recesses therein, said pawls engaging in said recesses topositively and automatically lock said roller the speed of said rolleris maintained below a certain low velocity, and cam and roller meansassociated with said spindle and shade roller and separate from saidpawls to lock said roller to said spindle when the speed of the rollerexceeds a certain high velocity and the pawls become ineffective.

4. The combination with a spring roller, of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, means associated with said roller and spindle forpositively and automatically locking said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is maintained below a certain low velocity, adrum associated with said roller for rotation therewith, and lockingroller and cam means associated with said drum and said spindle forlocking said drum to said spindle when the speed of said roller and drumexceeds a certain high velocity and the rst named locking means becomesineffective.

5. The combination with a non-rotatable spindle for said roller, meansassociated with said roller and spindle for positively and automaticallylocking said roller to said spindle when the speed of said roller ismaintained below a certain low velocity, a drum associated with saidroller for rotation therewith, a cam carried by said spindle, andlocking roller means cooperating with said drum and said cam for lockingsaid spindle to said roller when the speed of said roller exceeds acertain high velocity and the first named locking means becomesineffective.

6. The combination with a spring roller, of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, means associated with said roller and spindle forpositively and automatically locking said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is maintained below a certain low velocity, adrum associated with said roller for rotation therewith, a cam carriedby said spindle, and a roller member to said spindle when spring roller,of a disposed in said drum and adapted for wedging locking engagementwith said drum and cam to lock said spring roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller exceeds a certain high velocity and the rstnamed locking means becomes ineffective.

7. The combination with a spring roller, of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, means associated with said roller and spindle forpositively and automatically locking said roller to said Spindle whenthe speed of said roller is maintained below a certain low velocity, adrum having an annular flange associated with said roller for rotationtherewith, a cam carried by said spindle, and a roller member disposedin said drum and seating on the flange thereof, said roller member beingadapted to have wedging locking engagement with said cam and the iiangeof said drum to lock said spring roller to said spindle when the speedof said roller exceeds a certain high velocity and the first namedlocking means becomes ineffective.

8. The combination with a spring roller, of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, means associated with said roller and spindle forpositively and automatically locking said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is main tained below a certain low velocity, adrum having an annular flange associated with said roller for rotationtherewith, a cam carried by said spindle, and a roller member disposedin said drum and seating on the flange thereof, said roller member beingnormally inactive when the speed of the spring roller is maintainedbelow a certain lo-w velocity, and becoming active to move into wedginglocking engagement with said cam and the flange on said drum and therebylock said spring roller to said spindle when the speed of said rollerexceeds a certain high velocity and the first named locking meansbecomes ineffective.

9. The combination with a spring roller, of a non-rotatable spindle forsaid roller, means associated with said roller and spindle forpositively and automatically locking said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is maintained below a certain low velocity, adrum having an annular flange associated with said roller for rotationtherewith, a double cam having a plurality of pockets therein carried bysaid spindle, a plurality of locking rollers disposed in said drum, oneof said rollers normally seating in one of said pockets and another ofsaid rollers normally seating on the flange of said drum in each of twodiametrically opposite kpositions of the spring roller, said lockingroller member being adapted to have wedging locking engagement with saidcam and the flange of said drum to lock said spring roller to saidspindle when the speed of said spring roller exceeds a certain highvelocity and the first named locking means becomes ineffective.

l0. The combination with a spring shade roller of a non-rotatablespindle for said roller, locking means comprising a drum secured to saidroller for rotation therewith, a cam secured to said spindle, wedgingmeans disposed in said drum and cooperating with said drum and said camfor locking said roller to said spindle when the speed of said rollerexceeds a certain high velocity, means disposed in said drum forretaining said wedging means therein, and means associated with saidlast named means and said spindle to lock said roller to said spindlewhen the speed of said roller is below a certain low velocity.

1l. The combination with a spring shade roller of a non-rotatablespindle for said roller, a stud secured to said spindle and extendingoutwardly therefrom, locking means comprising a drum secured to saidroller for rotation therewith, a cam secured to said spindle, wedgingmeans disposed in said drum and cooperating with said drum and said camfor locking said roller to said spindle when the speed of said rollerexceeds a certain high velocity, means disposed in said drum forretaining said wedging means therein, a plurality of pivoted pawlscarried by said last named means, and a boss having recesses thereinsecured to said stud, said pawls engaging the recesses in said bossunder the influence of gravity to lock said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is below a certain low velocity.

12. The combination with a spring shade roller of a non-rotatablespindle for said roller, a stud secured to said spindle and extendingoutwardly therefrom, locking means comprising a drum secured to saidroller for rotation therewith, a cam secured to said spindle, wedgingmeans disposed in said drum and cooperating with said drum and said camfor locking said roller to said spindle when the speed of said rollerexceeds a certain high velocity, a flanged disc disposed in said drumfor retaining said wedging member therein, cooperating means on saiddisc and said drum for restraining lateral inward movement of said discwith respect to said drum, a plurality of pivoted pawls carried by saiddisc, and a boss having a. plurality of recesses therein secured to saidstud, said pawls engaging the recesses in said boss under the iniluenceof gravity to lock said roller to said spindle when the speed of theroller is below a certain velocity.

13. The combination with a spring shade roller of a non-rotatablespindle for said roller, a stud secured to said spindle and extendingoutwardly therefrom, locking means comprising a drum secured to saidroller for rotation therewith, a cam secured to said spindle, wedgingmeans disposed in said drum and cooperating with said drum and said camfor locking said roller to said spindle when the speed of said rollerexceeds a certain high velocity, a flanged disc disposed in said drumfor retaining said wedging member therein, cooperating means on saiddisc and said drum for restraining lateral inward movement of said discwith respect to said drum, a housing secured to said spring roller, aninturned flange on said housing, said flange cooperating with the flangeof said disc to restrain lateral outward movement of said disc withrespect to said drum, a plurality of pivoted pawls carried by said disc,and a boss having a plurality of recesses therein secured to said stud,said pawls engaging in said recesses under the influence of gravity tolock said roller to said spindle when the speed of the roller is below acertain velocity.

14. The combination with a spring shade roller of a non-rotatablespindle for said roller, a stud secured to said spindle and extendingoutwardly therefrom, locking means comprising a drum having an annularflange secured to said roller for rotation therewith, a cam secured tosaid spindle, a roller member disposed in said drum and seating on theflange thereof, said roller member being normally inactive when thespeed of the roller is maintained below a certain low velocity andbecoming active to move by centrifugal force into wedging lockingengagement with said cam and the flange on said drum and thereby locksaid spring roller to said spindle when the speed of said spring rollerexceeds a Cil certain high velo-city, means disposed in said drum forretaining said roller member therein, a plurality of pivoted pawlscarried by said last named means, and a boss having recesses thereinsecured to said stud, said pawls engaging the recesses in said bossunder the influence of gravity to lock said roller to said spindle whenthe speed of said roller is below a certain low velocity.

15. In combination, a spindle with a attened end having two positions ofengagement with a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shaderoller rotatable with respect to said spindle, and means comprising acam member on the spindle and cooperating wedging means operable in eachposition of said spindle in said bracket for preventing too rapidrolling of said shade up on said roller.

16. In combination, a spindle with a flattened end having two positionsof engagement with a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shaderoller rotatable with respect to said spindle, a cam member held againstrotation by said spindle and having a pair of cam portions, and a pairof locking roller members carried by said shell member, one of saidroller members being cooperable with one of said cam portions in each ofthe positions of said spindle in its bracket whereby to lock the rolleragainst rotation at too rapid speed in the direction in which the shadeis rolled up on said roller.

17. In combination, a spindle with a flattened end having two positionsof engagement with a bracket and held against rotation thereby, a shaderoller rotatable with respect to said spindle, a shell secured to theend of the roller for rotation therewith, a cam member on the spindle,wedging means carried by said shell member and cooperable with said cammember to lock said roller against too rapid rotation in either of thetwo positions of said spindle in said bracket, a member for retainingsaid wedging means in said shell, and means carried by said last memberfor locking said roller to said spindle when the speed of said roller isrelatively low.

ERSYL F. CHAMBLESS.

